The Edo Healthcare Regulation and Monitoring Agency (EDOHERMA) has reaffirmed its commitment to transparent healthcare regulation and stronger collaboration with stakeholders following a strategic engagement with professional healthcare associations in Benin City.
The meeting, convened to address concerns surrounding the ongoing health facility revalidation exercise, also provided an opportunity for the Agency to clarify regulatory requirements and strengthen cooperation within Edo State’s healthcare sector.
Speaking at the engagement, the Chief Executive Officer of EDOHERMA, Dr. Adesuwa Urhoghide-Edigin, said the revalidation exercise is a statutory requirement under the EDOHERMA Law 2025 and is aimed at creating a comprehensive database of all health facilities operating in the state.
She explained that the exercise is not intended to revoke existing licences previously issued by the Ministry of Health but to verify and update the status of registered facilities. According to her, only the 2025 tax payment receipt is required for the current exercise, dismissing reports that a three-year tax clearance certificate is mandatory.
In a move to ease the compliance burden on healthcare providers, Dr. Urhoghide-Edigin announced that fumigation and fire service certifications have been removed from EDOHERMA’s direct requirements, with facilities now expected to obtain them directly from the relevant government agencies.
She urged professional associations to utilise established communication channels in resolving issues and encouraged compliance with the revalidation exercise to promote quality healthcare delivery across the state.
Stakeholders welcomed the engagement, describing it as timely and productive.
Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP), Dr. Godfrey Imuetinyan, called for wider consultation with stakeholders before introducing major regulatory policies, while commending the Agency’s leadership for its commitment to improving healthcare regulation.
The Chairman of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), Edo State Chapter, Mr. Ehigie Ekhaguare, stressed the need for stronger collaboration between regulators and professional bodies to eliminate quackery and improve patient safety.
The Director of Medical Services at EDOHERMA, Dr. P. O. Evbuomwan, also emphasised the importance of emergency preparedness and Basic Life Support (BLS) training for healthcare workers to strengthen emergency response across health facilities.
The engagement concluded with stakeholders expressing optimism that the clarifications and resolutions reached would enhance mutual understanding, improve compliance and deepen collaboration in advancing quality healthcare delivery in Edo State.
